My Octy went for it's 20,000 mile service at Dutton Forshaw in Maidstone today. It was all done quite quickly but after driving the 1.5 miles home I decided to check the dipstick and oil filter. The filter was definitely new but the oil was a dirtyish mid - brown colour; not what I expected as the Shell 'Helix Plus' that supposedly went in is almost completely clear.

There was evidence around the filler cap that spillage had been wiped up, but I found it difficult to believe that it had actually been changed so went straight back to the garage. The service manager was "in a meeting" and "couldn't be disturbed" and when one of the more senior service desk ladies spoke to me she was adamant that the oil had been changed and that the technicians (also not available) say that the residue of the old oil immediately contaminates the colour of the new.

Has anyone else experienced anything similar to this? Incidentally the cost of this service was

if it was drained properly then the new oil should take a while to become dirty. wonder how long the silkolene i'm getting for the punto will take to get dirty - it starts of red

was allways a light colout when it was done on my mondeo

Indeed it could be just residue oil left in the engine. In the old days people used to flush the engines out first then put the new oil in but alas not many people bother to do this now.

Is it petrol or diesel engined? My 12 year experience of 1.9 TDIs is that the new oil is as black as soot as soon as its been driven. This has been true of of modern high tech. oils as well as 10W/40 back in 1992. My petrol Alfasud with much lower annual mileage keeps its oil very clean. If you're on variable servicing keep your eye on the mileage to next service countdown readout. If it goes down much quicker this time without change of driving style/journey pattern then your suspicions are probably justified.

I think the oil has been changed...it won't take much 'old oil' residue still left coating the walls of the sump or sitting inside the oil pump 'vanes' to turn new oil dark...especially if they haven't left much time for the old oil to drain out before refilling.

(I usually leave a good 2 hours before refilling if changing oil at home - I don't think a garage would spare this length of time - unless they take a liquid lunch on a Friday afternoon!)

I think you'll be fine - it would be impossible to drain every last trace out of the engine - some components hold oil - just think if all the oil dropped back into the sump when the engine was switched off there would be no oil to lubricate the various bearings and seals when started - imagine how long the engine would last then !

Most longlife oils are a light golden brown colour when new - similar to golden syrup.

We once had a customer acuse us of not changing his oil - and he insisted he wanted a sample so he could have it analysed - no problem we said - and carried out ANOTHER oil and filter change in front of him - and gave him the old(clean) oil - we did not know that he worked for Shell!! -- but fare does to the guy a couple of days later he came back in and apologised - his colleagues in the lab had confirmed that it was indeed fresh oil.They also showed him how little old oil was needed to discolour the fresh oil - the colour of the oil is not important - its wether its the right type and is fresh.

The point about the screenwash is also a common one -- you have topped it up - but the tech's do need to check that the washers/wipers are working correctly - and it is part of the service to top it up. I am sure if you had told them that you did not want anymore fluid - they would not have charged you. That said - if we get that situation and the customer brings it up - we simply take it off the bill - its not worth the hassle.

Thank you all, that has largely put my mind at rest.

Lots of garages don't drain the oil out now - they suck it through the dipstick. If not done correctly that will leave slightly more old oil than is desirable.

Indeed it could be just residue oil left in the engine. In the old days people used to flush the engines out first then put the new oil in but alas not many people bother to do this now.

Its not advisable to flush PD engines out just as a note.

But normally i'd be very suprised for the engine oil to be completely clear after an oil and filter change, there is still quite a bit of oil that stays in an engine when you drain it out. Do a sump gasket and you will see what I mean, plus all the oil galleries dont empty out, neither do hydraulic lifters etc.

Please dont think that all garages are on the rob, some of us are trust worthy.

Lots of garages don't drain the oil out now - they suck it through the dipstick.

My car had to have a new sump (under warranty) because the thread on the drain hole wore out after a few oil changes. I believe they suck oil out through the dipstick now...

Just had my Octy RS back from service. Have driven about sixty miles and the oil is light brown. I watched them change to oil, so it sounds normal.

Its not advisable to flush PD engines out just as a note.

Cheers for the heads up, not that I was going to do it as I am a lazy fooker

My car had to have a new sump (under warranty) because the thread on the drain hole wore out after a few oil changes.

Usually down to overtightening of the bung and not replacing it every service.